University Life Faculty Flash: Promoting Career Readiness at Mason
October 2015
This Faculty Flash is brought to you by University Life, your partners in educating and supporting Mason students. We will periodically share our expertise that may be helpful in the classroom.
University Life is committed to student retention, well-being, and post-graduate success. Career Readiness has been studied as a key component in all three arenas.[1] University Career Services’ new Career Influencers Network leverages these principles for student career success by encouraging faculty, staff, and administrators across campus to come together to learn how to best support students as they strive to become career ready and achieve post-graduate success. Supporting the career readiness of students is a top priority for the University as outlined in the institution’s strategic plan. Faculty, staff, and administrators all share the responsibility of producing 100,000+ career ready Mason graduates by 2024. Through the Career Influencers Network, University Career Services accepts a centralized role in coordinating, educating and supporting the growth of a network and community across campus dedicated to the career readiness of Mason students. Please consider participating in the Career Influencers Network; space is limited and advanced registration is required for each cohort. Career Influencers will be eligible for annual awards and recognition as measured by student and employer referrals.
Upcoming Career Influencers Network Cohorts
- Cohort 1 (Three Session Option):
- 10/12, 10-11:30am
- 10/19, 10-11:30am
- 10/26, 10-11:30am RSVP
- Cohort 2 (Single Day Option):
- 10/30, 10am-4pm RSVP
Career Influencers Network Learning Objectives
- Work effectively with students seeking career advice and provide appropriate referrals to University Career Services
- Articulate the best steps for students to take throughout the various stages of career development and degree progression at George Mason University
- Support the strategic goal of producing 100,000+ career ready graduates
- Understand the services and expertise provided by University Career Services that help support the strategic goal
- Differentiate between the types of experiential learning opportunities available for students
- Identify the proper methods of working with employers in compliance with NACE standards
- Understand how to utilize HireMason as well as other digital resources available through University Career Services
Mason’s BIGGEST Career Fair
The Career Fair is one of the best opportunities for students to meet employers, grow their networks, and secure future internships or jobs. Here are a few ways you can help your students make the most of this opportunity:
- Encourage your students to attend both days of the fair: October 7th and 8th in Dewberry Hall
- Visit the faculty resources page for a quick presentation to download and share with your students
- Bring your classes to the fair or come by yourself to network with some of the region’s top employers hiring students in your field
Additional Tips and Resources to Support Student Career Success
- Join HireMason: Register or Log into Hire Mason as faculty in order to see
- job postings, set-up search agents by academic program or industry, and forward relevant opportunities to your students.
- Hire a Student Worker or Research Assistant: Register or log into Hire Mason as an employer. Click on Jobs and select “Add New”. Complete and submit the request. Your position will be approved in one to three business days. If you wish to use it, for your convenience, we have provided a student evaluation rubric
- Request a Presentation: Career Services can arrange to give a presentation to your class or organization on a broad range of topics including resume writing, job and internship search strategies, networking and interviewing.
- Integrate Career into the Classroom: Consider assigning students the following exercise: have your students search for 10 jobs they want, and instruct them to note the requirements and specific skills needed for those jobs. Then, have them investigate how they can gain those skills at Mason or practice them in your course.
- Encourage Internships and Involvement: Add the Hire Mason link for students on your syllabi and website and urge your students to prepare and apply to internships (which can greatly increase the chance of getting a job after graduation). Having students get involved on campus in a group or club is another great way to start building a resume.
[1]A 2014 Gallup-Purdue University study found that support and experiences in college had a relationship to long-term outcomes for graduates. For example, if graduates recalled having a professor who cared about them as a person, made them excited about learning, and encouraged them to pursue their career goals, their odds of being engaged at work more than doubled, as did their odds of thriving in all aspects of their well-being. And if graduates had an internship or job in college where they were able to apply what they were learning in the classroom, were actively involved in extracurricular activities and organizations, and worked on projects that took a semester or more to complete, their odds of being engaged at work doubled as well (Gallup, 2014).
Thank you for being our partners in student success.
Rose Pascarell
Vice President for University Life